Gaujot brothers
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The Gaujot brothers, Antoine A.M. Gaujot and Julien E. Gaujot, are two of the eight sets of brothers awarded the Medal of Honor and the only pair to receive the Medal for actions in different wars. Both brothers also attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Their father, Ernest R. Gaujot, a French-born mining engineer, emigrated to Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, where he met and married Susan Ellen McGuigan. The family subsequently relocated to Michigan, then lived for a while in Ontario, Canada, before moving to Lynchburg, Virginia. Ernest Gaujot had traveled to Japan in 1877 to serve as general superintendent of mines. He solved some significant problems while in Japan, for which the Mikado reportedly conferred on him the honorary title of "general".
In 1894, the family moved to what the following year would become Mingo County, West Virginia, at a time of rapid expansion of coal mining operations in the region. Ernest Gaujot was resident engineer for the Koontz Brothers of New York City, whose mineral holdings in Mingo County were consolidated under the name United Thacker Coal Company. Julien attended the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC is now Virginia Tech) in 1889-1890, then worked as a civil engineer. Tony enrolled at VAMC in 1896 and was still a student there when the war with Spain erupted.
[edit] Antoine August Michel Gaujot
| Antoine August Michel Gaujot | |
|---|---|
| 12 December 1878-14 April 1936 | |
| Place of birth | Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw County, Michigan |
| Place of death | Williamson, West Virginia |
| Allegiance | U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1897 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel at retirement |
| Unit | Company M, 27th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Paye |
| Awards | Medal of Honor 15 February 1911 |
| Other work | state police, civil engineer |
Antoine August Michel Gaujot was born on 12 December 1878 in Eagle Harbor Township, Michigan.
Antoine Gaujot received the Medal of Honor for actions on 19 December 1899 as a U.S. Army corporal at the Battle of Paye near Mateo during the Philippine Insurrection. "He made persistent effort under heavy enemy rifle fire to locate a ford in order to help his unit cross the swollen river to attack. Unable to accomplish this he swam with a companion again under fire and against a dangerous current across the river to the enemy side. There, he secured an enemy canoe and returned it to the friendly side of the river."
Antoine's medal was issued 15 February 1911 and sent to him by registered mail (a common procedure at that time). He was later commissioned in the National Guard and saw service during the Mexican Border Crisis and in France during World War I.
Antoine A.M. Gaujot, also called "Tony", attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1896 and 1897 but did not graduate. A civil engineer by profession, he obtained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Infantry Reserve.
He died on 14 April 1936 in Williamson, West Virginia and is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Williamson. Records at Virginia Tech indicate that Antoine was murdered by Julien's son.
[edit] Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot
| Julien Edmund Victor Gaujot | |
|---|---|
| 22 October 1874-7 April 1938 | |
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| Place of birth | Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw County, Michigan |
| Place of death | Williamson, West Virginia |
| Allegiance | U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1897-1934 |
| Rank | Colonel at retirement |
| Unit | Troop K, 1st U.S. Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | Mexican Border, Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, Cuban Pacification, and World War I |
| Awards | Medal of Honor 23 November 1912 |
Julien Edmond Victor Gaujot, the brother of Antoine, was born on 22 October 1874 in Eagle Harbor Township, Michigan.
Julien, a regular army officer, became obsessed with his brother's achievement. Referring to Antoine, Julien said "He wears it for a watch fob, the damn civilian, I got to get me one of them things for myself if I bust." Julien Gaujot received the medal for actions on the Mexican border on 13 April 1911. He is the only soldier ever awarded the Medal for actions of a peacekeeping nature. In Douglas, Arizona, stray bullets from fighting among Mexican rebels and government troops caused American casualties. Infuriated, Julien mounted his beloved horse "Old Dick", and rode across the border into the teeth of the battle. He moved between the two groups of belligerents for an hour under heavy fire, eventually securing the safe passage of the Mexican government soldiers and American prisoners over the border to the United States. His actions saved five Americans taken prisoner by the Mexicans, 25 Mexican government soldiers, an unrecorded number of Mexican rebels, and averted further danger to those on the U.S. side of the border.
General Leonard Wood later said in referring to the incident that Julien's action warranted "either a court martial or a Medal of Honor." That Medal was approved 23 November 1912 and awarded by President Taft at the White House the following month, in one of the earliest White House presentations of the Medal of Honor. Julien served in the U.S. Army from 1897 to 1934 and participated in five major engagements: the Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, Cuban Pacification, Mexican Border, and World War I. He received two bronze leaves on his service ribbon for action in two major World War I offensives.
Julien was enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1889 and 1890 but did not graduate. He retired from the Regular Army in 1934 with the rank of colonel.
Julien died in Williamson, West Virginia on 7 April 1938 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
